Sallah: Resident Doctors embarks on medical outreach, assistance in Zaria
Almajiris
By Mohammed Lawal
Zaria (Kaduna State), June 15, 2018 (NAN) The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) chapter on Friday clothed, fed and rendered medical assistance to 200 ‘Almajiris’ in Zaria.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the association drew beneficiaries from four different places in Zaria and Sabongari Local Government Areas.
The beneficiaries were de-wormed, had medical check-up, and received donations of clothes and footwears, among others.
Speaking to journalists after the distribution on Friday, the association’s President, Dr Sokumba Aliyu, said the gesture was meant to improve the living standard of the beneficiaries.
“We are here, on behalf of the Doctors Timeout Families to reach out to the homeless children.
“”This is to see how far we can render medical services to them in commemoration of our third anniversary of doctors reach out programme.
“So far, we have visited three places and we are hoping to visit the fourth place before we close for the day. Our target is 200 children, for now, we have been able to cover a significant number.
“We are optimistic that by the time we go to the last place, we should be able to get or go beyond our target of 200,” the president said.
Aliyu noted that the association had also been able to successfully reach out to the homeless children at ‘Yan Goro, near Kwangila, also in Zaria.
He said that the association was able to distribute drugs to them, clothing as well as footwears.
“We are hoping that in future, we will be able to do more than we are doing now. We believe this will go a long way in uplifting the living standard of these children,” he assured.
On the amount spent on the programme, the president said they got donations and contributions from various people.
According to him, it is not about how much spent but just about how much impact they are able to make on the lives of the children.
“From our interaction with these children, we understand that they need medical attention, social care and so many other things.
“As such, wealthy individuals in the society, especially in Zaria city, can extend helping hands to us so that we can collectively salvage these needy children,” Aliyu pleaded.
Also speaking, a NARD official, Dr Bilkisu Muhammad, said the essence of the visit was to enrich the lives of children on the streets, popularly called Almajiris.
“Unfortunately, these children don’t even go for the Qur’anic education, they spent most of their time on the streets begging for alms.
“As we celebrate Eid-el-fitri, children with parents will have good clothes for the festive period, unfortunately, these children may never have the chance.
“So, we decided to reach out to well meaning people within and outside Zaria and they responded positively which we were able to put into procurement of most of these items.
“As doctors, we equally felt we should look into their health challenges, as such, we decided to do massive de-warming for them,” she said.
According to her, the management of ABUTH donated free anti hematic drugs which were used for deworming of the children.
She described children as the future hope of the nation, adding that it was high time to begin to invest in them positively.
“This is because, if we don’t, the irresponsible people will take advantage of their circumstances and use them for bad things.”
Hajiya Mujidat Abdur-Rahim of Zakkat and Sadaqat Foundation lauded the efforts of the medical doctors and urged them to sustain the tempo.
“This is what our foundation is all about, we have partnered with the medical association to enable them achieve their set goals.
“This kind of things is what government and non-governmental organisations should be doing because, life is one of the most important things in Islam.
“NARD is doing a lot to improve children’s live. If these lives are not taken care of, they will come back and haunt for us. We are glad to partner with the association,” she said. (NAN)
KLM/ELLA/YAZ
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Edited by Ella Anokam